Public office and employment are a public trust. As such, the proper
operation of democratic government requires that local government
officials and employees be independent, impartial and responsible
to the people; that all government decisions and policy be made in
the channels of the governmental structure; that public office not
be used for personal gain; that no taint of personal gain, justified
or unjustified, shall mar governmental decisions and actions; and
that the public have confidence in the integrity of its government.

In recognition of these goals, there is hereby established a Municipal
Ethics Board, which is charged herein with the responsibility for
promulgating and administering a municipal code of ethics consistent
with the Local Government Ethics Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.1 et seq.,
to be applied to all persons holding office or position in the service
of the Township by election, appointment or employment, whether paid
or unpaid, permanent or temporary, and to be administered locally,
as permitted by N.J.S.A. 9-22.19.

Creation; composition. There is hereby created a Municipal Ethics
Board, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.19. It shall consist of
six members who shall be residents of the Township and at least two
of whom shall be local public officers or local public employees,
as defined by N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.3. The members of the Ethics Board
shall be appointed by the governing body and shall be chosen by virtue
of their known and consistent reputation for integrity and their knowledge
of local government affairs.

Officers. The members of the Ethics Board shall annually elect a
Chairperson from among the membership and may, in their discretion,
annually elect a Vice Chair and such other officers from their membership
as are deemed to serve their purposes.

Terms; vacancies. The members shall serve for terms of five years,
except that, of the members initially appointed, two shall be appointed
to five-year terms, one to a four-year term and the remaining members
shall be appointed to three-year terms. The initial five-year terms
shall be served by the public members. Each member shall serve until
his or her successor has been appointed. Any vacancy shall be filled
by the Township Council for the unexpired term.

No compensation; reimbursement for necessary expenses. Members of
the Ethics Board shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed
for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

Employment of counsel and clerical staff; oversight of Manager. The
Ethics Board may employ or contract for legal counsel, experts and
other staff and services as it may deem necessary, not exceeding the
amount appropriated by the governing body for its use. Further, to
the extent that there is no conflict of interest, the Ethics Board
shall accept personnel and services assigned to it by the Manager.
The Manager shall have oversight of the Ethics Board as chief executive
officer of the Township, in accordance with the Council-Manager form
of government, N.J.S.A. 40:69A-81 et seq.

Time for implementation. Within 90 days after the appointment of
the full complement of six members to the Ethics Board, the Board
shall promulgate, by resolution, a Municipal Code of Ethics for all
local government officers and employees serving the municipality.

Statutory standards and prohibited activities; right to be more restrictive.
The Municipal Code of Ethics so promulgated shall be either identical
to the provisions set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.5 or more restrictive,
but shall not be less restrictive.

Notice and hearing. Within 15 days following the promulgation thereof,
the Municipal Code of Ethics, and a notice of the date of public hearing
to be held thereon, shall be published in at least one newspaper circulating
within the Township and shall be distributed to the Township Clerk
and to the heads of the local government agencies of the Township
for circulation among the local government officers and employees
serving the Township. The Ethics Board shall hold a public hearing
on the Code of Ethics not less than 30 days following its promulgation,
at which any local government officer or employee serving the Township
and any other person wishing to be heard shall be permitted to testify.

Approval. As a result of the hearing, the Ethics Board may amend
or supplement the Code of Ethics, as it deems necessary. If the Code
of Ethics is not identical to the provisions set forth in N.J.S.A.
40A:9-22.5, the Ethics Board shall thereafter submit the Code of Ethics
to the Local Finance Board in the Division of Local Government Services
in the Department of Community Affairs of the State of New Jersey
for approval. If the Local Finance Board fails to act within 60 days
following its receipt of the Code, it shall be deemed to be approved.
The Code of Ethics shall take effect 60 days following approval by
the Local Finance Board or 10 days after the public hearing, if local
Finance Board approval is not required. The Ethics Board shall forward
a copy of the Code of Ethics to the Township Clerk and shall make
copies of the Code of Ethics available to local government officers
and employees.

Conflict. Nothing herein contained is intended to supersede the applicability
of the Local Government Ethics Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.1 et seq., and
any provision of this article or the Code of Ethics promulgated hereunder
which is not sanctioned by, or is in conflict with, the Local Government
Ethics Law shall be a nullity.